Q: Now we have entered in your framework, is this an attempt from the other party to take advantage of this historic opportunity is it for Polisario, or people you said they are not free to take decision.

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: I said that leadership is not free in its decision, and people are not free in terms of participation in decision-making. What is the question

Question: the meeting of the Advisory Council

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: the Royal Advisory Council, I do not want the press to use the wrong name, its name is the Royal Advisory Council, not the Advisory Council the word “Royal” is so important. 

Question: this meeting is an appeal to the Polisario to use this historic opportunity for the Moroccan and before the third round of negotiations

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: Yes, I mean we're going to issue Smara call. What I want to transmit is that there is a problem within Polisario whose leadership is now divided in relation to decisions to be taken regarding  the future of  people who are in Tindouf. people want the leadership to engage in a positive way in negotiations and negotiate in regard to the application of self-government. The leadership has another agenda and this is why Gjijimat Congress was held. People in the camps say that the current leadership of Polisario is not competent to approve self-government. 

Question: In order not ignore some development observed in recent years there is an Algerian policy in supporting Polisario, and this was culminated recently by threat and use of weapons while Morocco has a different policy 
Is Morocco betting hundred percent on negotiations and political and peaceful solution

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: First, I want to say something. The threat of waging war is not true. I emphasize that Polisario does not have means to wage war. This is a diplomatic bargaining to the international community and primarily the United Nations. Plosario has no material,  physical and psychological means to engage in war except if it intends to commit suicide. War decision can not be taken by Polisario only. Therefore, personally, I do not believe in this war issue as it is part of psychological propaganda against Morocco and the United Nations. 

How Polisario can make war while in deplorable conditions in respect of internal solidarity, internal unity and internal division, and topics related to nutrition. Polisario is now heading rapidly towards political, diplomatic and human collapse.  

This is a purely propagandistic issue and I ask the press not to give it much interest. Mr. Mohamed Abdul Aziz yesterday said that war was not an option for them, but we discussed it a possibility. Polisario does not have any means to launch war against Morocco at any time today and in the future

Question: What to do if Polisario’s Congress remains in its position
will Morocco resist forever or there are some other channels that it may use, especially that this concerns the fate of thousands of people detained who want to return to their country  

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: first an answer to this question is premature. We are at a turning point that concerns Polisario itself. there is now division within the Polisario Front, based as I said on protest by the population and an unrest between the population and the leadership. So there is pressure from within Polisario and will allow people to put further pressure to soften its stance in negotiations if its goal is to reach a result. However, if the goal is to delay or respect another agenda other than the interests of Saharans division will grow up between the base and the leadership resulting about a civil war within Polisario.  

Question: Mr. President, you said a while ago during your opening speech that you are going to discuss autonomy plan and you hope that the next round in Manhasset will be occasion to highlight the good faith of the opponents.
Do you hope that they will respond to you

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: there is hope because within the leadership there are prominent people who say that options after Manhasset 1 and 2, do not lead to the result. This point of view is not among the leadership who has final decision. If they join the leadership on 18th or if some of them join the leadership there will be some change and if they are eliminated the trend will remain the same. 

Polisario Front is split between two sections: one part is subject to the intelligence and field effects of those who deal with them in this context, the others who help remain in the leadership and responding to the citizens aspirations to engage in genuine negotiations and end the problem.

This is the real problem, there is one to take decision in this direction.

Therefore if people who talked to me and who agree on autonomy, but have not much power take the reins of leadership, or at least some of them we will see that they are working in this direction.  

But if the radicals still hold the leadership this means that this is intelligence direction against autonomy and this would bring about trouble and many major problems for them. They imposed a preparatory committee for the conference, which included the whole. They shaped a programme and submitted it  to neighborhoods, districts and all organizations. Closed discussion between the Preparatory Commission and all the bodies had been internal dissension for the Polisario.
What are the substantive questions: Where are we walking? What is the objective? Will you leave this? Will the corrupt people be excluede? How much time we will stay here in Tindouf? Questions without answers.

They told people this is what we will discuss at the conference and there will be some modification, however, I do not expect modification which will be of great disappointment and rapid developments towards gradual collapse, at least not only for the Polisario Front, but the collapse of the institution set up for more than one third of a century.

Question: So this will serve the interest of Morocco?

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: Of course, I Morocco has not achieved for 32 years a similar victory in the region. The International community supports this solution and blames Polisario Front and Algeria for hosting the movement and not helping to engage in serious negotiations.   

Question: I have three questions, first is you repeat your sppeches at every visit. Don’t you think that the region’s problems deserve to be given due importance?

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: history is the core of the problem. History will decide whether The Sahara is Moroccan or not. Is separation an old idea in the mind of Saharans, is separation is inherited from the ancestors, is separation based on objective historical community issues, were we a different nation with management and a separate decision from Morocco? I say to those who say this to you and others, separation can not be built on history whether far or near. Separation can be built on problems, as you say, but these problems can never justify separation. You can justify demonstrations and sit-ins but can not get to secession. I’m addressing Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, whose father is a member of corcas and the leadership whose fathers were in the Liberation Army and participated in Rghiwa battle, those who participated in the Dchira, I’m addressing those who know exactly the interpretation of my speech.

Social problems will be examined all the other socio-economic and political problems as well as issues related to human rights will be discussed. Everything should be discussed within it context. The word separation is out of context but the other things are at hand. 

Question: You talked about autonomy as the best solution to solve the problem of Western Sahara, Mr. President, do not you think that, without full reconciliation with all Saharans autonomy can not be applied?
And what is the meaning behind Polisario’s armed struggle in this particular circumstance?

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: autonomy is in itself reconciliation. Polisario or some of the Saharans demanded secession for the reasons everybody knows. I studied in and was president of the PNUS. Spain offered me a state and I refused. I do not want to secede I want to join Morocco. Those who studied in Mohammed V University including the Secretary-General and others said no because that was a leftist time in Morocco, the time of Marxism-Leninism and monarchies were considered backward. They were affected by the general international and domestic atmosphere at that time. They adopted the ideas of the time and I understand this. However, this should have been remained academic ideas is because all young people go through this stage: ideological revolution maturity and pragmatism. I tell these brothers that autonomy is reconciliation because Morocco has made a lot of concessions by giving a large part of its land and soil which are part of its political, economic, and social and cultural privacy. Therefore, the option  itself is a historic reconciliation, expiation of the errors committed by the State since 1956 against Saharans deliberately or inadvertently, in terms of economy marginalization, isolation and lack of consideration.  

Autonomy is a political and human compensation, then it is in itself a recognition that the State made mistakes in the past for a long time. It does not concern one person  but the state administration in general and is now offering something great  which is reconciliation.

With regard to war, it is out of place and an issue of propaganda and demagoguery without any value because it is not well founded and not applicable.  

Question: Polisario is holding its Congress in Tifariti while negotiations are so close and Morocco considers its proposal as final solution.
what do you expect in this situation?

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: First, you know that Polisario had already delayed its Congress for one year and half. This Congress was delayed due to divisions within the Polisario Front. Now the Congress is taking place in Tifariti and we do not expect anything from it. It  does not want peace through negotiation and autonomy as final solution.

These divisions were fueled and deepened by he announcement by a group of tribal elders to hold another Congress called Gjijimat.

Question: Is it possible to solve the problem without going through Algeria?

Khalihenna Ould Errachid: I still have the the same belief. Algiers says it is not a party in the conflict and this is what the Kingdom of Morocco want. Morocco accepted to negotiate because Algeria says that this UN conflict and involved only because it takes place on the edge of its territory because and it is hosting refugees and has positions based on the principles relating to respect for self-determination.

With regard to the position of Algeria in the negotiations, we have not so far seen any impact that we can consider positive impact meaning convincing Polisario to engage or through indirect more flexible way. It is true that Polisario includes Algeria because the conflict is on its territory since it hosts camps, military organization and many individuals that it backs financially and diplomatically. It is so cautious to make any position because it can bring about many things.

I therefore think that Algeria has so far no clear position is still calling for obvious things, but it has not made no important step, it is just letting them swimming in contradictions.

I still believe that Algeria may play a major part especially if there is a popular change in the camps.

Therefore, there is no change my position. This issue is connected with the construction of the Maghreb and has impact on our bilateral relations between the two countries. I personally hope that one day Algeria will change its position leave Polisario free to take its position and its decision.  

Question: Mr. President, within Corcas, what steps can be taken to prepare the ground for the newborn autonomy
Second question: the Secretary-General report spoke about the need to engage in substantive matters. The report warned against useless negotiations.

How can Morocco get into the heart of negotiations?